Pokémon: Wings Of Shadow

"Well? Sir, would you like to purchase a high-level Pokémon like this? It would be quite useful for adventuring in the wild." The cloaked man spoke calmly, as if he didn't particularly care whether Shiro bought it or not.

Shiro was definitely interested. A Pokémon like this only needed daily feeding and could provide solid protection while his Gastly and Rookidee grew stronger.

"How much?" Shiro asked.

"That depends on the specific strength of the Pokémon you choose," The man explained slowly. "An early-stage Gym-level Pokémon and a late-stage one have very different prices."

Once a Pokémon reached the Gym-level, each small improvement came with a significant price increase. Those that had been at that stage for a long time had mastered more moves and had much higher proficiency than those that had just reached it.

"Then... how much for that Rhyperior?" Shiro pointed to the psychic projection the cloaked man had displayed.

The Rhyperior had brownish-gray skin covered in orange-red armor plates that looked extremely durable. Its strength was at the later stages of the Gym-level, around level 47.

"Oh? This one is quite powerful." The cloaked figure clasped his hands together. When he opened them again, a special gray Poké Ball appeared in his palm. Through its semi-transparent casing, the Rhyperior inside could be faintly seen.

"It evolved using a held item, so the price is... three million Pokédollars." The cloaked man placed the Poké Ball in the center of the table. "For comparison, a newly advanced Gym-level Pokémon of this level would cost around 1.5 million."

Since all Advanced-level and higher Pokémon sold on the black market had undergone brainwashing, their prices were fixed within a certain range and were typically much lower than high-quality training resources.

That was because any Pokémon at the Advanced level or above—whether caught in the wild or stolen—inevitably had obedience issues. This made their resale or trade-in value significantly lower.

A trainer's true strength came from Pokémon they had raised from a young age, building bonds and trust. Otherwise, many Pokémon would remain locked in their Poké Balls, and even when sent into battle, they might refuse to fight properly.

The difference was clear—one was merely a tool, while the other was a trained companion.

"I'll take it." Shiro didn't hesitate. He knew the price was inflated, especially for a brainwashed Pokémon that could never improve its strength.

But this was the black market. As long as it served its purpose and gave him peace of mind, he could accept it.

He retrieved the money from his bag and completed the transaction. Then, he placed all the Poké Balls he had taken from Dorian onto the table.

There were five in total, all locked. Dorian had no bond or understanding with them, and Shiro had no intention of keeping them either.

The Pokémon included two Advanced-level Rillaboom and Thievul, two Intermediate-level Nuzleaf and Grimer, and a Beginner-level Wooloo.

"That'll be 397,000 Pokédollars." After using his psychic power to assess the Pokémon's conditions and strength, the cloaked man quickly calculated the price. He then took the corresponding amount from the thick stack of bills Shiro had given him and returned the rest.

After the transactions, Shiro was left with around a million Pokédollars, aside from the Dragon Scale.

The cloaked man leaned closer and asked, "Would you like to purchase anything else? Perhaps a Pokémon with high potential?"

"No," Shiro shook his head. As much as he wanted to acquire more resources for his Pokémon, his immediate priority was finding a safe location. "How much to teleport me to the Wild Area?"

"The Wild Area..." The man seemed to be considering it.

The Wild Area was a vast stretch of untamed land in the central-southern part of Galar, home to various Pokémon of different types. Many trainers ventured there to train and explore.

It was also a place where identity and regulations didn't matter. Only money and strength dictated survival.

"Just 5,000 Pokédollars," The man said. "Many people travel between the Wild Area and the cities daily, so we have dedicated teleportation channels."

"Alright." Shiro felt a weight lift off his chest. He then asked about resources for training Rookidee and Gastly.

A short while later...

Shiro spent 400,000 Pokédollars to purchase two special berries—Blackwing Berry and Darkshade Berry—said to be high-quality exclusive products of the Macro Cosmos company. They were particularly beneficial for the growth of low-level Pokémon.

He also spent 100,000 Pokédollars on some Exp. Candies and 300,000 on an item specifically for Gastly: the Linking Cord, a rope infused with special energy. It was a necessary item for evolving Haunter into Gengar, and he made sure to get the best quality available.

Shiro also bought a portable communication device—essentially a Pokémon version of a laptop—for a little over 10,000 Pokédollars.

Now, he was nearly out of money, with only around 150,000 Pokédollars left.

"Alright, let's begin." After packing up his things, he handed the merchant 5,000 Pokédollars, signaling for him to proceed.

"Very well..." The cloaked man's voice suddenly became hoarse and distorted, his figure twisting unnaturally.

The surroundings plunged into darkness. The man vanished along with the light.

A wave of nausea hit Shiro. Instinctively, he shut his eyes.

...

The Wild Area connected several towns and was known for its ever-changing terrain and climate. Countless Pokémon lived there, and the species that appeared varied depending on the time, location, and weather.

It was also the heart of Dynamax phenomena. By locating Pokémon dens, one could also find wild Gigantamax Pokémon. Beyond that, trainers in the Wild Area could gather berries and items, earn Watts, and participate in Rotom Rally races.

It was a haven for those living off the grid in Galar—and the best place for trainers to grow stronger.

East Lake Axewell.

Inside a League store marked by a blue sign with a cloud symbol, a middle-aged woman with sallow skin lazily leaned against the counter, flicking through a few Pokédollar bills with her fingers.

It was past 7 p.m. Even the most seasoned trainers and adventurers would be looking for a safe place to camp for the night.

The League store was about to close.

Clang—

The iron door, a symbol of the black market, suddenly slid open. The woman glanced over and saw a cold-faced young man stepping out after surveying his surroundings.

It was Shiro.

After scanning the store and confirming that aside from an older woman, there was no one else, he finally walked out.

The woman watching him wore a faded red T-shirt stained with dust. Her baggy brown pants were splattered with mud, blending into the fabric's color.

"Newcomer?" She swept the bills together with one hand, stuffing them behind the counter. "Name's Ruth. Call me whatever you want. I run this place, but we're about to close."

Shiro was about to nod when Ruth casually pointed toward a wooden door on the side.

"Guest rooms over there. 2,000 Pokédollars per night. You staying, or are you planning to sleep outside and feed the Pokémon instead?"

"..."

Shiro stayed silent for a moment. Instead of responding, he stepped outside and looked around.

The store was built on a small green hill. On one side, steep cliffs rose high, while the other sloped downward toward a tall metal fence at the hilltop.

Under the cover of night, the landscape beyond the fence had already faded into darkness.

If Shiro wanted to leave, he would have to step past that barrier.

A clear reminder of just how dangerous the Wild Area was.

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